Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1887-03-02

their agreements as to Jobs to be Gn.
lshed; we allow them three days oil
grace to make sure. We DO not men
tally expect many of them to say one
thing and do another. This Is falsehood,
except that it Is not done to deceive US
deliberately. as rule, but to get rid OF
US, to secure the job ani get US out OF
the shop. To be charitable, q trades
mans promise usually means, ''as soon
as suits my best convenience. l am at
work all the time. am interested to
get this done and collect my bill as soon
as possible. 1 will use due diligence.
Do not take your work to my compe-
tltor over the way"
Vow, this being the exact truth,
Willy not say so? That would be honest
and kind. Is it not worth Is mans
.tl }!e 10 always speak just what he
/ iaeans? In the long run, woIld not
the customer be better pleased and
nes.re likely to stick? Is it pleasant for
,radesman to realize that he is even
the unwilling occasion of anger and
Gf2Sureless small sinfulneSS in the IT.
rltaied tempers of various people? And
II one habitually speaks meaningless
promises, how can he be sure that the
gravest misfortune of disappointment
may not result to somebody? The
hack driver must keep his word, for
the train will not wait. The druggist
must do as he agrees, for the medicine
carries life and death; it will not do TO
follow the butchers fashion-promise
ito have 1t at the door at zen O'Clock"
and not deliver 1t till noon. The en-
gineer must be on time. There are
many OF us who must work up to the
clock or not work at all. Why not the
ordinary tailor, shoemaker, plumber,
carriage maker and marketman2
There are two sides to this question,
to be sure. The machinery may break
down; a journeyman workman may be
sick; goods may be out of stock; injury
may chance to the Job when half fin
lshed; there may b. birth or death in
the family. Under such circumstances
a man of tine sense of honor would, one
might suppose, bethInk him promptly
OF the promise and send an explanation.
Surely that would not cost much; and
If Il were impossible, for any reason,
then a customer ought to have the de-
cency to take the explanation when he
could get it. But IN common expert
ence we get all sorts of excuses except
honest zones.
II is laughable, the transparent
frauds that are offered US 10y the way
of excuse. The Imperturbable face
which is put on, the subterfuges that
are used, when We call according to
agreement, and the work is not done.
Why not say frankly, Il have not got
at itl" All, the blessed TRUTH Ii Is
thc easiest thiGg in the world to honey
comb or veracity by such small lying
till there is no solid truth in US.
II tradesman were the soul OF
honor he would use all customers alike.
The meanest trick is to prefer one Gus.
toner's work TO aDother's, after the
promise has been made TO the former.
There is nothing more exasperatIng
than that. Yes, there is-it is TO have
the second conner ask that his work
li.Iy be done first. This should be con-.
sidered an insult TO the workman.
That it is not considered insulting is O
severe reflection upon the supposed
elasticity OF wOrkman's promise.
There are men who will in an instant
fracture their promise 10 a poor Gus
toner, or stranger, or one whose
trade is limited. to please a "big fel-
lJw." 1t may be objected that the
large order is more important, and
should be treated accordingly. True
but then you should prom Sc
the small Job according-say frankly
what you intead to do. The simple
truth is what / am plealing for. Every
man is then free to leave his job or not,
as he pleases. We hear so much about
shops9 How little We hear
about one-prOmise shops. For my part,
| would sooner be robbed of my dollar
than my day. My time Is more than
money to me. The vexst;on Of a dis
is full as sore as the loss
of cent or two. l am not writing to
men and women who have the insolence
to propose that their work take prece-
dence over other. If l were, 1 should
have to search the dictionary to 1nd an
adjective hot enough to properly ex-
press my impatleDce with such small
| am reminded that we all make
promises of duties to be done. We are
not all tradesmen, in the technical
sense; but we are all under more or less |
obligations to society. The public |
speaker, who, for trivial cause, dlsap- !
points an audience, deserves kick; it |
is a contemplate sort Of robbery Of
many people. The lawyer. proverbial |
necromancer with promises, what |
worlds of gnashlng chagrln have waited
on his empty promises. Clergymen
have been known to promise more than
they could perform. 1t is unreason-
able to single out any class of tOilers
The truth is, the snare of promising is
the putting it in the shape of AL excuse
that is, 10 get rid of the person for
the time being. Another trap is our
own ig lorance or indecisiOn OF mind.
To promise, to make an engagement
for the sake of holding it, while we
make up our mind whether we can or
wish to attempt the task, is common
fault among professional people. 1t is
a detestable practice. IL causes world
IF inconvenience. in its way. Let US
iay, and what We say let us. do as we
,ay, if we die for it.